OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of three preoperative imaging methods in the anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) transplantation.

METHODSAccording to preoperative imaging, patients who underwent the ALT flap transplantation were divided into three groups: computed tomography angiography (CTA) group, digital subtract angiography ( DSA) group and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) group. There were fifteen cases in each group. We compared the imaging quality of the ALT artery among these groups and recorded the parameters of lateral femoral circumflex artery, descending branches and perforators including type, course and size. The results from images were compared with intraoperative findings. The success rate and complications were also recorded.

RESULTSThe preoperative imaging accuracy of the types of the lateral femoral circumflex artery and descending branch was more than 92.3%, with no significant different between any two of three groups (P > 0.05). The difference in diameters of descending branches and perforators from preoperative measurement and from intraoperative measurement was also not significant between any two of the three groups; the success rate and complications were not also obviously different (P > 0.05 , P > 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative mapping using CTA, DSA and MRA is a feasible and reliable method for the flap design in ALT transplantation. As a preoperative evaluation means, CTA and MRA may replace DSA in the ALT transplantation.